Commission calls for a European consensus to
boost impact of humanitarian aid

The European Commission has adopted today a
Communication paving the way for greater efficiency and coherence in delivering
humanitarian aid. The Commission is calling for the European Union to work more
closely together on a consensus that would boost its collective response to
humanitarian crises. This includes advocating full respect for international
humanitarian law, so that aid and aid workers can reach people in
need.

From Afghanistan to Zimbabwe, the European Union helps hundreds of thousands
of vulnerable people on a daily basis. But while the need is great, the job of
delivering the aid is getting harder and more dangerous, in an ever-more complex
international environment.

More than half of official international humanitarian aid comes from the EU -
either through the Commission or through bilateral Member State programmes. The
Commission is seeking a consensus affirming that EU aid:

• is founded unequivocally on the humanitarian principles of
neutrality, independence and impartiality, and

• must be delivered rapidly and efficiently to crisis victims on the
basis of assessed needs.

Louis Michel, the European Commissioner for Development and Humanitarian Aid
said: "As Europeans, we have a moral duty to lead the way in helping millions of
victims of violent conflicts and natural disasters. Humanitarian action is a key
external objective of the European Union: it is time for us to speak up
collectively for the humanitarian cause, and against the growing number of
violations of international law. People desperately need our help in Darfur, the
Middle East, Sri Lanka and many other trouble spots. The impact of our response
will be strengthened if we work closely together at EU level to ensure proper
access to crisis zones."

Today’s Communication has been adopted after a wide-ranging
consultation of humanitarian stakeholders (NGO's, UN bodies and agencies, Red
Cross/Crescent) and careful reflection on lessons learned from past crises. This
should become the basis for a future European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid,
built on Europe's long tradition of humanitarian solidarity, and on the
principles of good humanitarian donorship.

This would be the first time that:

• The European Union issues a joint document on its humanitarian aid
policy (since the adoption of the Humanitarian Aid regulation in 1996)

• The EU as a whole, both the Commission and all Member States, has a
comprehensive policy statement on humanitarian aid that underlines our
commitment to the fundamental humanitarian principles

• The principles and guidance of the Good Humanitarian Donorship
Initiative of 2003 would be discussed in detail and formally adopted at EU
level

• The EU would commit itself to diversity of implementing partners

• Member States and the Commission would discuss concrete steps to
improve coordination of humanitarian aid activities

• The Community's added value in humanitarian aid would be formally
recognized and steps for further improvement endorsed by Member States and the
European Parliament